Root knot nematodes!

[DonDuck]

I planted my tomato seedlings out in mid to late march. I planted six KBX plants in a single row. All six grew well into late April except one plant started showing signs of distress in late April by not growing as fast as the other plants. In a couple of days, I noticed the single plant had wilted in a few hours since I had last checked it. I pulled the plant and found the original root ball was infected with root knot nematodes.

About four inches above the original root ball, the plant was producing new roots from the stem at the soil surface. The new roots and the infected roots were separated by about four inches of bare stem. I was curious if any common chemicals would deter the nematodes or kill the plant. I cut the stem just below the new roots and replanted the new roots into the same zone the infected roots were in. I also put a shade cloth around the plant to protect it from the hot sun.

In two quarts of water, I mixed 1/2 table spoon of Miracle Grow fertilizer, one table spoon of Epson salt; and 1/2 cup of vinegar. I mixed them well and saturated the base of the plant with the mixture. I repeated the procedure three days later. I did it two more times three days apart without the MG.

I noticed this evening after a very hot day, the plant is putting out new growth from the stem and some of the wilted leaves are no longer wilted. I don't know if the nematodes are gone or if they are already infecting the new roots, but I will continue saturating the plant one time per week until it either dies or starts blooming again. If it survives, I will check the root ball at the end of the summer season to see if it has any nematode nodules on the roots.